in behalf of

1. For someone else, as someone's agent or representative. For example, In behalf of the board, I want to thank you for your help , or Joan was speaking on behalf of the entire staff . [c. 1300]

2. For someone's benefit or interest, as in He was collecting the dues in my behalf . [Late 1500s] Some authorities insist that in behalf of be used only to mean “for someone's benefit” and on behalf of only to mean “as someone's agent.” In practice, however, the terms are so often used interchangeably that this distinction no longer has a basis.

Idioms and Phrases

Also, on behalf of .

Example Sentences

Under state law, companies can be held criminally accountable for crimes of its top executives if they acted "in behalf of" the company, which Merchan says prosecutors must prove by showing Weisselberg didn't act in his sole interest, but also that of his employer.

From Salon

“Now the prosecution’s case rests on one thing: convincing you, the jurors, that Mr. Weisselberg’s actions were done in behalf of the company.”

From Seattle Times

The company’s lawyers have argued that the prosecution must prove that Weisselberg intended to benefit the corporation when he engineered the scheme — and that “in behalf of” can mean nothing else.

From Seattle Times

In addition to proving that Weisselberg was acting “in behalf of” the Trump Organization, New York criminal law requires that prosecutors establish that he was a “high managerial agent” of the company and that he committed the crimes “within the scope of his employment.”

From Seattle Times

The dictionary’s website, originally cited in the defense’s court papers, suggested that — unlike the phrase “on behalf of” — “in behalf of” essentially means “for the benefit of.”

From Seattle Times